NSW Government commits 60 million AUD to reduce domestic violence

NSW Premier Mike Baird said that domestic violence was a plague that needed to be eradicated across NSW and Australia.

“No one should have to live in fear in their own home,” Mr Baird said.

“We need to target these offenders to change their attitudes and behaviours to make a lasting change.”

The package is in addition to the $148.5 million over four years the government committed for specialist DFV services in the 2015-16 Budget. The package augments the government’s existing It Stops Here DFV reforms.

Targeting perpetrators

The package will target perpetrators of DVF though:

$15 million to introduce Domestic Violence High Risk Offender Teams in all six police regions. The teams will target recidivist offenders and investigate serious DFV matters. The teams will roll out over the next three years.
The NSW Police Force will apply Suspect Targeting Management Plans for recidivist domestic violence offenders. The Central Metropolitan Region has kicked off using the plans in October with a view to rolling them out across the state in 2016.
$4.1 million to advance roll out of all 24 Domestic Violence Liaison Officers positions. These positions play a critical role for police in investigating and supporting victims of DFV.
$19.5 million for mandated perpetrator behaviour change programs to make perpetrators face up to their actions, attitudes and behaviours.

Supporting victims

The package will support victims of DVF through:

$20 million to increase the Specialist Homelessness Services’ capacity through additional emergency accommodation and support for women and children affected by domestic violence, and enable services to respond more quickly.
Australia’s first Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme will begin in four Police Local Area Commands from early 2016 including Oxley, Shoalhaven, St George and Sutherland.
$2.3 million over two years for Police-Non-Government Organisations (NGO) Partnerships to provide NGO-led early intervention support and crisis responses to applicants of the Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme.
$1.3 million over four years to increase Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners in high-risk communities in rural and regional NSW.
The Staying Home Leaving Violence program will expand to four new sites including Coffs Harbour, Inverell, Orange and Clarence Valley.
The DFV Blueprint, an analysis of the service gaps in the DFV system, which is underway with experts across the NGO and government sectors. Work will be completed in 2016 as part of the It Stops Here reforms.